NASA awards $2.85M for research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $2,851,208 ($2.9M)
Contractor: University of Alabama AT Birmingham
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2025-10-01
End Date: 2027-09-30
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: RESEARCH, ENGINEERING & MISSION INTEGRATION SERVICES (REMIS) 2 COLD STOWAGE
Place of Performance
Location: BIRMINGHAM, JEFFERSON County, ALABAMA, 35294
State: Alabama Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $2.9 million to UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM for work described as: RESEARCH, ENGINEERING & MISSION INTEGRATION SERVICES (REMIS) 2 COLD STOWAGE Key points: 1. Contract focuses on R&D in physical, engineering, and life sciences, excluding nanotechnology and biotechnology. 2. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The duration of the contract is 729 days, ending in September 2027. 4. The award type is a delivery order, indicating it's part of a larger contract vehicle. 5. The primary agency involved is NASA, with the Space Administration also listed. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541715, aligning with R&D services.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $2.85 million for a two-year R&D effort appears moderate. Without specific deliverables or performance metrics, a direct value-for-money assessment is challenging. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts within NASA or other agencies for comparable services would be necessary for a more precise evaluation. The 'COST NO FEE' contract type suggests that the government reimburses allowable costs, with the contractor not receiving a profit margin, which can sometimes indicate a focus on cost control but may also impact contractor motivation.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This typically indicates a healthy level of competition, which should theoretically lead to better pricing and value for the government. The number of bidders is not specified, but the open competition suggests multiple entities likely vied for this award.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can drive down costs and encourage innovation, leading to more efficient use of public funds.
Public Impact
This contract supports research and development activities, potentially leading to advancements in physical, engineering, and life sciences. The primary beneficiary is NASA, which will receive the research outcomes to further its mission objectives. The geographic impact is primarily within Alabama, where the University of Alabama at Birmingham is located. The contract may have implications for the scientific and engineering workforce, providing opportunities for researchers and technical staff.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- The 'COST NO FEE' contract type may limit contractor incentive for cost efficiency compared to profit-bearing contracts.
- Lack of specific performance metrics or deliverables in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the potential for successful outcomes.
- The R&D nature of the contract inherently carries risks of not achieving desired breakthroughs or results within the timeframe.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process and potential for competitive pricing.
- The contract is with a known academic institution (University of Alabama at Birmingham), which may have a track record in relevant research areas.
- The contract duration of two years provides a reasonable timeframe for R&D activities.
Sector Analysis
The contract falls under the Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector, a critical area for government innovation and technological advancement. This sector is characterized by long-term investment, specialized expertise, and often involves academic institutions and private research firms. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend heavily on the specific sub-discipline of R&D and the scope of work, but NASA's overall R&D spending is substantial, reflecting the agency's mission.
Small Business Impact
The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a small business set-aside. The competition was full and open, meaning large businesses and other entities were eligible to bid, and the impact on the broader small business ecosystem is indirect, related to the overall R&D landscape.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by NASA's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be defined within the contract's statement of work and terms and conditions. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases like USAspending.gov. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Research and Development Contracts
- University Research Grants
- Physical Sciences Research
- Engineering Research
- Life Sciences Research
Risk Flags
- Cost Control Risk (Cost No Fee)
- R&D Outcome Uncertainty
- Performance Monitoring Complexity
Tags
nasa, research-and-development, physical-sciences, engineering, life-sciences, university-of-alabama-at-birmingham, cost-no-fee, full-and-open-competition, delivery-order, alabama, federal-spending
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $2.9 million to UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM. RESEARCH, ENGINEERING & MISSION INTEGRATION SERVICES (REMIS) 2 COLD STOWAGE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $2.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-10-01. End: 2027-09-30.
What is the University of Alabama at Birmingham's track record with NASA contracts, particularly in R&D?
Assessing the University of Alabama at Birmingham's (UAB) track record with NASA requires a detailed review of historical contract data. While the provided data indicates UAB is the contractor for this specific $2.85 million REMIS 2 COLD STOWAGE delivery order, it doesn't offer insight into their past performance. Generally, academic institutions like UAB frequently engage in government contracting, especially for research and development. To evaluate their track record, one would look for previous awards from NASA or other federal agencies, the types of research conducted, contract values, and any reported performance issues or successes. A positive history with similar R&D projects would suggest a lower risk for this current contract. Conversely, a history of cost overruns, missed deadlines, or subpar research outcomes could raise concerns.
How does the $2.85 million value compare to similar R&D contracts awarded by NASA for physical, engineering, and life sciences research?
The $2.85 million contract value for a two-year R&D effort in physical, engineering, and life sciences is within a moderate range for such specialized work. NASA's R&D spending can vary significantly, with some basic research grants being smaller and large-scale engineering or technology development programs costing hundreds of millions or even billions. For specific R&D in areas like 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)' (NAICS 541715), contracts can range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the scope, complexity, and duration. This particular award appears to be a delivery order, suggesting it might be a component of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. Benchmarking would involve comparing it to other delivery orders or task orders issued under similar IDIQs or standalone R&D contracts with comparable objectives and durations.
What are the primary risks associated with this 'COST NO FEE' contract type for NASA?
The 'COST NO FEE' (CNF) contract type, while seemingly beneficial for cost control as it excludes profit, introduces specific risks for NASA. The primary risk is a potential lack of contractor motivation to innovate or achieve cost efficiencies beyond what is necessary to cover allowable costs. Since the contractor does not earn a profit margin, there is less financial incentive to perform exceptionally well or to find cost-saving measures. This can sometimes lead to slower progress or a focus on simply meeting minimum requirements. Another risk is ensuring the contractor diligently manages and controls costs, as NASA is obligated to reimburse all allowable expenses. Robust oversight and clear performance metrics are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure the government receives good value despite the absence of a profit motive.
What does the 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences' classification imply about the expected outcomes?
The NAICS code 541715, 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology),' indicates that the contract's objective is to conduct scientific research and experimental development to advance knowledge and understanding in these broad fields. Expected outcomes are typically not immediate products or services but rather new insights, theories, methodologies, prototypes, or data that contribute to NASA's broader scientific and technological goals. This could involve anything from understanding fundamental physical processes relevant to space exploration, developing new engineering solutions for spacecraft or equipment, or investigating biological systems in space environments. The 'except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology' clause specifies the boundaries, focusing the R&D on more traditional scientific and engineering disciplines within the physical and life sciences.
How does the contract's duration of 729 days (approx. 2 years) impact the feasibility of achieving R&D goals?
A contract duration of approximately two years (729 days) is a common timeframe for many research and development projects, particularly those focused on specific phases of investigation or development. For foundational research or early-stage experimental work, this duration can be sufficient to explore hypotheses, conduct experiments, gather data, and potentially develop preliminary findings or prototypes. However, for more complex R&D endeavors that require extensive testing, iterative design, or the resolution of significant technical challenges, two years might be considered short. The feasibility of achieving R&D goals within this timeframe heavily depends on the clarity of the research objectives, the scope of work, the availability of resources, and the inherent complexity of the scientific or engineering problems being addressed. NASA's program managers would have determined this duration based on their assessment of what is realistically achievable.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 701 S 20TH STREET, BIRMINGHAM, AL, 35294
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $18,620,694
Exercised Options: $7,502,677
Current Obligation: $2,851,208
Actual Outlays: $1,180,533
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 80JSC024DA011
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-10-01
Current End Date: 2027-09-30
Potential End Date: 2027-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-10
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